Cake update: A gallery of birthday goodness from amphib Iwo Jima

The birthday cake served over the weekend on the amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima — almost too pretty to eat. Almost. (Navy photo by MC2 Morgan E. Dial)

Subscribers to Navy Times (Not a subscriber? Don’t make us beg) got a full rundown in their print and/or digital editions this week about the birthday-cake preparations aboard the amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima, which marked Saturday’s celebration in the Gulf of Aden.

While Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Jakeila Owens gave Navy Times managing editor Tony Lombardo the inside dish from half a world away, there was one thing we couldn’t show in our print edition thanks to press deadlines — the cake. It’s pictured above, but check out our gallery of shots below for more of the story.

CS2 Jakelia Owens sifts sugar two days before the Navy’s 237th birthday as she prepares a cake aboard the amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima. The cake used 40 pounds of sugar and 40 pounds of flour. (Navy photo by MC2 Travis J. Kuykendall)

Owens and Chief Culinary Specialist Ashley Reid-Hart strain blueberry filling for the cake. How else would you color something to look like the Navy working uniform’s Type 1 pattern? (Navy photo by MC2 Travis J. Kuykendall)

Not exactly “Ironsides” — much tastier. Owens places an edible re-creation of the historic frigate Constitution on the cake. (Navy photo by MC2 Travis J. Kuykendall)